No fireworks expected from Mayo who have looked far from fluent

Mayo v Derry
Premier Sports, 5pm Saturday

The scenic route could prove treacherous for Mayo this season and, while they might have enough quality to dispose of Derry, do not expect it to be pretty. This qualifier clash at Castlebar has banana skin written all over it.

Mayo stumbled from game to game in the league and did not explode into life against Sligo in their Connacht championship opener either.

A crunch championship clash with Galway looked the perfect stage for Stephen Rochford's charges to show what they are made of but an early red card for Keith Higgins was the catalyst for another tame display.

They do not look like All-Ireland contenders and it is hard to envisage them troubling Tyrone, Dublin or Kerry.

Mayo scored more than 15 points in only one of their seven league outings, that arrived against a struggling Roscommon side in round three. They got 2-14 in the success over Sligo but only 1-11 against Galway last time, so backing last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists to score 20 or fewer points looks a safe play.

Derry were completely outplayed by a red-hot Tyrone side in Ulster and yet kept a clean sheet, while Waterford scored only 0-13 in their back-door duel. No Mayo goal is a tempting 7-2.

While Mayo might struggle to hit the net, there could be lots of goalmouth action at Pairc Tailteann as Meath welcome Sligo. With both sides low on confidence and lacking a sturdy defensive strategy, this could be open and it seems the Royals have no idea how to try negate their opponents.

Louth scored three goals against them, Kildare got two and they could have had more in the Leinster semi-final, while they also leaked three to the Lilywhites in the league.

Meath have not managed to find the net in either of their championship outings in 2017 but they could have scored six against Louth had they been more clinical and a Sligo defence who coughed up eight goals in seven league games in Division 3 could be there for the taking.

This qualifier clash has goals written all over it and the 11-8 about three or more goals in the game with Paddy Power looks one of the best bets of the day.

Laois are slight favourites for their clash with Clare, probably because of having home advantage more than anything else, but they are worth taking on.

Laois are on the edge of a cliff and it's hard to see them turning things around. They got goals at the right times in their Leinster win over Longford but they were 13 points in arrears of Kildare at the end of their provincial quarter-final despite getting a goal in the opening minute.

Wicklow gave them a serious fright in the first round of the qualifiers and Clare are a far more polished side. The Banner boys won't lack for confidence after their creditable display against Kerry and this is an ideal opportunity to show what they are made of. Clare can win this by two points or more.

Donegal must be still licking their wounds after their Tyrone torment but they can bounce back with a routine win over Longford. Their inexperienced players were unable to cope with the heat of an Ulster championship battle and this is more their cup of tea for now.

The best bet on the match coupon is for Donegal to win while keeping a clean sheet at 6-5 with Paddy Power.

Recommendations
Under 20.5 Mayo points
2pts Evs BoyleSports
No Mayo goal
1pt 7-2 BoyleSports
Over 2.5 goals in Meath v Sligo
2pts 11-8 Paddy Power
Clare -1
2pts 11-8 general
Donegal to win and not to concede a goal
2pts 6-5 Paddy Power